Former Dubbo pilot in South African plane crash ...
FORMER Dubbo pilot Ross Kelly, who was flying a vintage aircraft which crashed in South Africa’s Pretoria Province last week, remains in an induced coma at Johannesburg’s Milpark Hospital.
Ross was interviewed by Dubbo Photo News two years ago when he flew a vintage Convair 440 from South Africa and landed in Dubbo on his way to the plane’s eventual home at the Albion Park base of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS).
At the time, he recounted how he almost accidentally began his career in aviation.
“I was riding through Dubbo in 1978 and ended up staying for 11 years. I got a job working in a service station for two years, then at Dubbo Marine and I learnt to fly with Noel Howell before working for Davey Air Services,” Mr Kelly said.
“I persisted until I got a job with Max Hazelton and worked in aviation up until I retired two and a half years ago, the last 33 and a half years were with QANTAS.”
That plane was donated by Rovos Rail to HARS, the Convair he was flying last week was also owned by Rovos Rail.
The Convair had been recently restored and was on a scenic flight prior to a marathon journey to its new home in a Dutch museum.
According to Rovos Rail, the plane experienced engine failure on take-off and crashed just outside Wonderboom Airport.
“Sadly, engineer Chris Barnard died in the accident - he was an experienced engineer and pilot and had been intimately involved with the Convairs for 17 years,” the Rovos Rail statement said.
“Captains Ross Kelly and Doug Hayward were injured and transported by helicopter to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg where they are in induced comas, but stable - the prognosis is optimistic.
“Rovos Rail is supporting Aviodrome and the SA CAA with the subsequent investigation.”
Mr Kelly’s wife Lyndal was aboard the plane when it crashed; she’s reportedly in a stable condition.